Can this photo be save

[nkeevers]

My brother was in a concert over the weekend and someone took pictures but they didn't come out that well. I've tried levels, hue/sat, brightness, shadows but the picture still looks awful! Maybe I should just go to black/white.

Here's the original...

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1Nlw3D9ehNt0eZP9MMskEii9l5NLw0_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1Nlw3D9ehNt0eZP9MMskEii9l5NLw0)

[hukari]

Now I think it looks pretty cool! But It made me think of this thread:
http://www.photoshopelementsuser.com/forum/showthread.php?t=17013&highlight=haze

Is the haziness the part that is bothering you?

[msbrad]

Good luck on this challenge!
How about..duplicating the layer and then multiply? What does that do?
Another thought is the high pass filter. I read it somewhere here, never tried it.
m

[nkeevers]

I had tried the multiply and it gave me this (I lowed the opacity too)
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/19qK0f9Hx949bYtOoeW8CpWAHTpRQ31_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=19qK0f9Hx949bYtOoeW8CpWAHTpRQ31)

I'm more concerned with the light shining on his face. The background isn't bad.

[ATR]

Norma,

This idea is "sort of" cheating, but....

What about abandoning the idea of ending up with the typical photograhic photograph....maybe go for a sketched look???

Photo
Duplicate (as working copy)
Decolorize the duplicate
Filter/Stylize/Find Edges
Drop Opacity to about 57% to add back just a little bit of color

I tried a few other filters, but this seemed to give a more artistic look rather than a fixed up look.

ATR

[nkeevers]

Thanks! I'll try it. I tried some filters too but couldn't get the right look. I wanted to do a collage for him and I have about 4 other pictures that are basically the same. I've managed to fix a few, but the ones of him...well let's say the sun keeps shining on his head!:eek: :D

[NickLewis]

I think the big problem is there's no detail on the right side of his face to recover - it's completely blown out. So you're not going to recover his face as such.

How about something like this:
http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/12XB8HOIRVdueKlZQFl4iRF4Ff16_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=12XB8HOIRVdueKlZQFl4iRF4Ff16)

I cloned colour from the left side of his face and his neck. It at least takes the white patch away. I'm sure it could be done better than my quick attempt.

But I am confidently expecting to be amazed at what the experts can do!!

Nick

[Daviskw]

Hi Norma

It has wonderful color... why not just go with it to the extreme. I just duplicated the layer and set the layer mode to Linear Burn then a little surface blur.. then a local sharpening of the face, to just bring out some edges.

Butch

http://www.pixentral.com/hosted/1r0f0GZgMy74dmS06Joe0a0W4diPgd_thumb.jpg (http://www.pixentral.com/show.php?picture=1r0f0GZgMy74dmS06Joe0a0W4diPgd)

[nkeevers]

That looks good Butch! At least it doesn't looked washed out too much now. The left side had a big screen with pschedelic type colors so that must have been what was causing such a problem with the shot. (and the guy taking the shots wasn't too great at it I hear).:D